Baseball tightens drug policy in wake of Ryan Braun appeal

Major League Baseball, infuriated that National League MVP Ryan Braun's positive drug test was overturned by an independent arbitrator in February, announced several revisions to its joint drug policy on Thursday, including altering protocol for the shipping of urine samples that played a factor in Braun's successful appeal.

Additionally, MLB and the players' association agreed that MLB will announce the specific substance that results in a player's positive test and that any player testing positive for a banned substance will be barred from participating in the All-Star Game.

Protocol also was established for evaluating and treating players who suffer from alcohol abuse, or have engaged in off-field violent conduct, in the aftermath of Detroit Tigers outfielder Delmon Young's arrest last month on assault charges in New York.

It will also add offseason blood testing for human growth hormone and increase offseason urine testing for other performance-enhancing drugs.

MLB and the union also altered the procedure for players to receive exemptions for drugs related to attention deficit disorder and ADHD. There were 111 therapeutic-use exemptions granted in 2011, and 110 in 2010. A three-person panel now may rule on an exemption if the doctor requesting it is not certified by MLB, or if there is a dispute.

Drugs to treat ADD and ADHD, such as Adderall, can serve as a stimulant similar to an amphetamine, which baseball added to its banned substance list after the 2005 season.

The requests now must be approved by a three-person panel of experts.

The revisions, agreed upon during the collective bargaining agreement in December, the year-end review and after Braun's arbitration hearing, could eventually include the possibility of HGH blood tests during the season. Players must submit to at least one random HGH blood test during spring training and are subject to testing in the offseason and for reasonable cause. There are more than 45 new performance-enhancing substances and stimulants added to the list of prohibited substances.

"These latest changes and revisions to the joint drug agreement reflect the players' desire to have the strongest possible drug prevention and treatment program in professional team sports," said Michael Weiner, executive director of the Major League Players Association. "Today's announcement reflects one of the greatest strengths of the program - its ability to be improved through the collective bargaining process."

They also modified the collection procedure to specific times when the specimens must be delivered to the courier and how specimens should be stored prior to delivery. It also includes the circumstances in which procedural deviations would result in the invalidation of test results in the appeal process.

The policy specifies that a test sample collector must stipulate two FedEx locations in which samples will be collected. If "unusual circumstances" prevent a collector from delivering specimens to FedEx immediately after collection, the collector must notify Comprehensive Drug Testing, which oversees the process, and it will consult the independent program administrator to determine if it should drop the sample at FedEx or "maintain temporary custody of the specimens."

Before this modification, MLB's policy stated that "absent unusual circumstances, the specimens should be sent by FedEx to the laboratory on the same day they are collected." Dino Laurenzi, who collected Braun's sample, stored Braun's specimen, and perhaps others, at his home for two days.

While the old policy did have protocol to follow in the event the sample was not immediately ready for shipment, independent arbitrator Shyam Das ruled that the storing of Braun's sample created enough room for error in the process and upheld Braun's appeal.

Das, who served at the pleasure of MLB and the union since 1999, was fired by MLB last month. The Associated Press reported Thursday that Fredric Horowitz has been hired to replace Das.

"These modifications to expand upon the comprehensive nature of our program are consistent with our efforts to ensure we are running the highest quality drug testing in professional sports," said Rob Manfred, MLB's executive vice president for economics and league affairs. "This agreement is a reflection of our commitment to monitoring our program and making upgrades in all possible areas in order to best serve our game."

Also, if any player violates the drug-testing program, he is automatically required to submit to three unannounced tests for the next year and six times if suspended for the use of stimulants.

There will be 1,400 random tests for performance-enhancing drugs during the season as part of the agreement, along with as many as 200 tests in the offseason this season, 225 in 2013-2014, and 250 tests in future years.

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